Knob securing device



Dec. 13, 1949 wf ANDERSON 2,491,356

KNOB SECURING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1946 I IIK' J Z INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON Patented Dec. 13, 1949 KNOB SECURING DEVICE Walter A. Anderson, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Underwood Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1946, Serial No. 719,297

5 Claims.

1 This invention relates to improved means for securing a hand knob, or the like, on its shaft,

and more particularly to means for enabling easy shaft without requiring the use of tools or special skill.

A still further object is to provide a knobsecuring means which may be used. for example, with a hardened steel shaft and will nevertheless afford a firm and positive hold on the shaft.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the important elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view of a paper feeding means such as used in adding machines and in which hand knobs embodying the present invention are employed,

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section illustrating the hand knob in the normal or operating position on its shaft,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the hand knob in position on the shaft preparatory to removing the knob therefrom,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the knob in process of being removed from the shaft,

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views ShOWing certain of the parts comprising the knob-securing device,

and V Figure '7 is an end elevation of the hand knob apart from the shaft and illustrating the securing parts assembled therein. I In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein the present invention is .illustrated as embodied in the hand knobs for manually rotating the paperfeeding means of a listing adding machine such as shown in my Patent No. 2,267,886; Referring to Figurel of the drawing the paper feeding means comprises a frame 9 in which is iournalled a shaft 10, Figures 2, 3 and 4, carrying a cylindrical platen I l. Associated with thev platen is a line-spacing detent means, not shown. which-operates, under substantially strong spring tension, to locate and firmly retain the platen in line-space position, and to prevent overthrow of the platen during the automatic rotation thereof by mechanism disclosed in said patent.

To enable manual rotation of the platen l I for inserting and line-spacin the paper, a hand knob 12 is provided at each-end of the platen shaft 10. The knobs [2 are secured to the shaft I0 with such firmness and rigidity as will provide the power required to rotate the platen against the resistance offered by the detent means, and without play.

The shaft I0 is formed to provide a flat area l3 leaving a predetermined thickness as measured between that area and the opposite periphery of the shaft. A hub 14 of the knob has an axial bore l5 to fit the shaft l0 and is recessed axially or counterbored as at IE to receive members l1 and Hi. The member ll, Figure 5, is constructed of a resiliently flexible material such as spring steel and is provided with cut-out portion IQ of such size as clears the shaft l0, and has a lug 20 extending into the aperture sufficiently to leave a space between its leading edge 2i and the opposite point of the bore 16, when assembled in the hub slightly less than the mentioned thickness of the shaft 10 at the area [3. The member [8, Figure 6, is constructed of a substantially rigid material and is provided with a circular aperture 22 of a diameter substantially equal to that of the shaft II. The members I! and I8 may be secured in the knob hub I4 by any suitable means. In the construction shown the recess 16 has a depth slightly greater than the combined thickness of the members I1 and I8. The members I! and l 8 may be the same outside diameter and fit snugly in recess l6, and are provided with notches 23 and 24, respectively. With the notches aligned, the members I1 and .18 are inserted in the recess I6 with the member 1 l1 bottoming therein, and ears such as at 25 are swaged or bent from the rim of the recess Hi to fit into said notches and to overlap the face of the member It. By this assembly the members l1, 18 are concentrically aligned so that the apertures l9 and 22 therein will receive the shaft l0, aperture 22 forming a continuation of the bore IS. The cars 25 prevent rotation of members l1, 18 in the recess and retain them securely against lateral displacement in the hub.

-The knob I2 is installed on the shaft ill by syaligning the leading edge 2| of lug 20 with the 3 fiat area l3 of the shaft and pressing the knob to the desired position on the shaft. In pressin the knob onto the shaft, the lug 20 is forced to flex laterally as shown in Figure 2. To facilitate thereof, said lug presentinga leading edge disposed transversely of the bore, said shaft having a flat, axially parallel portion and having at a prescribed longitudinal position, a transverse the starting of the knob onto the shaft, during 5 shoulder adjacent the fiat portion, the lug of said which the lug is flexed, the flat portion I3 of the shaft may be bevelled as at 26 to a slight degree.

The present inventionprovides'means whereby the knob is quickly and easily located in a prescribed position on the shaft, and is secured theme in such manner as will resist its removal. Io

this end the flat portion l3 of the sli'aiftis'provided with a step 21, leavingashouldeHZ-B thereresilient element being adapted, upon inserting the shaft into the bore, to flex laterally and press -againstsaid shaft, the leading edge of said lug *being adapted tolodgeu-against saidshoulder to define the prescribed and non-rotative position 11f the body member on the shaft.

2. Means for releasably securing a body member in "a'p'rescribed position on a shaft, the body member shaving .a rbore to slidably fit the shaft,

on which the leading edge -21 -o'"'f the iflexed Jug 5 :said means ucomprising a resiliently flexible eleengages to prevent the removal of the knob, as

illustrated in Figure 2. I

To permit removal of theknob, the shaft Ill is provided with a transverse recess or V groove ment disposed Ito project transversely into the bore and adapted to flex in opposite directions axially of thebore, said shaft having at a prescribed longitudinal position a reduced portion 30 adjacent the inner end of the step portion 21. formin a transverse shoulder, the flexible ele- To begin removal, the lenob-fisspressed itowardrthe left from its operating zposition against :the shoulder 23, as showninrFigure-i, to the, position shown in Figure 3 wherein-the i lug Zfieenters ethe -ment being .arranged upon .-.inserting the .-shaft into athe bore -to flex laterally and ,press on said shaft, said elementbeing-.adaptedto lodge against said shoulder \;-to-. define zthe prescribed P05113101}: of

groove 30. This rela xes the holdin'gutension-pf -the-body membenon the .shaft, .and :-said .shaft the flexed .lug vZU OII the shafct and' enables the lug to straighten to itsmormal flat eondition. After lug Zllentersgroove-%0, the knob!is-:then moved rightwardly toward the end-.of the shaft and the lug is thereby forced to climb the -ans With the sknob installed .indts girescr-ibedmosition, the lug 20 is spring-pressed .forcefully against step 21, withtheedgel-l .of .theluglodge d securely against shoulder- 28. sThe knob :18 thus securely retained in the prescribed position against removal. against 'step ZT, under the strong ,.pr.ess ure ofithe flexed lug, secures -thelknob against -rotation .on the shaft with afor'ceadequate to .assnretransmission of I a strong .rc'l'tative lforceltoflthe shaft .without developing any .looseness onplay. The? provision of the recess ori'groove 30-in-to which the lug 20 may enter so as'to'become unflexed and subsequently oppositely 'flexedfassures easy removal of the knob from the andwithout the use of tools. Fur'ther, thejprovision of the stepped form"2|,"2 8' against' which the looking lug '20 enswig'es,dispenses withtheinecessity usual locking 'menib'ers "'WeIe inten'Iied to bite.

This feature ehalblesthe'lise of a* thugwmater'ial for the shaft; such'iasfcase'ehaid'end'steeli'wbihh therefore resists Tmiitilatlon and"'thus assures? a is secured,- andthuspreventstamperlnga'rid'imauthorized removal of the What is claimed is:

The seating -of lug --.edge .21 4

having :a transverse :recess :of .a -depth .ample -.to permit said flexed element to relax .and thereby allow said element .to .become -oppositely flexed upon sliding the body memberrin-theaopposite direction on .the-shaft.

.3. Meansior .releasablysecuringabodylmemher .on -ra--shaft, the body. member. having :-abore to slidablyfit the .shaft, -said .means comprising a resiliently flexible element disposed to project transverselyinto .the.bore.and adapted to flex in .opposite directions.axiallyofthesbore, said-shaft -.having-.a.- length yportion-of -lesser. thickness .than that "of the bodywf the :shaft.and providing-e. .face,. the flexibleelement; projectingint-o thezbore .slightlybeyond-the..a11ea assumedsbywsaid face when the shaft-is .in; place-in-the bore,;-said-shaft alsoahaving afurther: reduced portionfor-ming-a vshoulder.adjacent-Ian end .of-said length portion, said .fiexible element. pressingrag-ainstlsaid shoulder with the body member in its prescribed-position lengthwise of the shaft.

-4. .Means for releasably securing-a knob "in a prescribed l-positioninnia-shaft, the knob having a -bore-.-toslidably fit .=the..shaft,zsai-d :rneans comprising a resiliently flexible element dis-posed to ,project transversely into the =bore=zand adapted to: flex inopposite: directionsuaxia-lly of .the i-bore, and said shaft having:-threeradjoiningdength.portions.-of successively reduced thickness. and form- :ing a -5shoulder Ibetween (the first and second length cportionsnandaa recesszzat: the .thirdalength portion, the :flrst length portion causing said 'mesilient'eelement :zto flex :in none direction ';.up0n inserting the shaft into the boresthes-Shoulder lodging :saidelement fin the mrescribed 'ipos'ition .rof knob'zamdstherzrecess penmifllingzsaidcelement to become relaxed and subsequently oppositely fflexeduincident nto withdrawing tithe shaftazfrom "'thevbore.

5. Means for releasabiyfisecuning aeknob ln za rpres'cribed ipositi'orrzonz-ws shaftmthea knobizhaving 1a :boret to slidablyi-fiflt 'ithe eshaftian'd Ehavingea -'eounterbore, -said means comprising arrdi'sk of Magus ;l qorresilientlytiflexihlenmolterialnhavingeanteinterior prescribed position*non ro'tatively on a round shaft, the body member having-'ahbor' fittingthe shaft, said means-comprising a *resmeiitly fleslbie element having alug 'disposed m project intd'the cut-out areafiformingrafiflexiblelug; means2securmg saididiskzimfixedapositiomirnlthe :counte'rbore, tiahe lug projecting: transversely izrtoethes shafttfittingeborenandsaidshiftthavingi threetadjoinbore substantially at right angles to Ethe'.=aadsm5 m l neth pm'ti s f u s ly fl d t ness and forming a. shoulder between the first and second length portions and a recess at the third length portion, the first portion causing said lug to flex in one direction upon inserting the shaft into the bore, the shoulder receiving the free edge of the lug with the lug flexed against the second length portion and the recess permitting said flexed lug to become relaxed and subsequently oppositely flexed incident to withdrawing the shaft from the-bore.

WALTER A. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENI IS Number 

